[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 61829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30275]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Drug Enforcement Administration
[DEA Number 170N]
Task Force on Suspicious Orders
AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Justice.
ACTION: Notice of establishment of Task Force on Suspicious Orders.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (1972), and 41 CFR 101-6.1001-6.1035
(1992), the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
with the concurrence of the Attorney General, is establishing a Task
Force on Suspicious Orders for the purpose of developing proposals to
define suspicious orders of listed chemicals which can be used by
registrants in determining if an order is a suspicious order which must
be reported to the DEA.
The Task Force is authorized by Public Law 104-237, Section 504 of
Subtitle V, Education and Research, the Comprehensive Methamphetamine
Control Act of 1996 (the MCA). The specific provisions of the Act state
that:
The Task Force shall be responsible for providing the Attorney
General with recommendations, advice, and proposals for the
establishment of such guidelines that will adequately define suspicious
orders of listed chemicals. The Task Force shall limit its area of
consideration to domestic issues regarding suspicious orders.
DATES: This Task Force is effective September 3, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Leser, Program Analyst, Liaison and Policy Section, Office of
Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, D.C.
20537, Telephone (202) 307-4026 or Facsimile (202) 307-8570.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scope: Regulated persons are required to report suspicious
regulated transactions to DEA pursuant to 21 CFR 1310.05(a)(1) and 21
U.S.C. 830(b)(1)(A). In the past, DEA has had general guidelines which
were published in the Chemical Handlers' Manual as to what constituted
a suspicious chemical order. The Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control
Act of 1996 (MCA) mandated the establishment of the Suspicious Orders
Task Force with the express purpose of developing proposals that
further define a suspicious order. The scope of discussion of this Task
Force shall be limited to enhancements and clarifications of what
constitutes a suspicious chemical order that needs to be reported to
DEA.
Membership: In accordance with the provisions of the MCA, this Task
Force will be composed of appropriate personnel with experience in
investigating and prosecuting illegal transactions of listed chemicals
and supplies, and representatives from the chemical and pharmaceutical
industries.
The Task Force will consist of 20 members nominated by the chairman
of the Task Force from relevant industry/trade associations and state
and local law enforcement agencies. The composition of the Task Force
shall be:
Two members from the DEA investigative workforce
One member from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of
California
One member from the International Association of Chiefs of Police
One member from The National Association of Diversion Investigators
One member from the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement
One member from the Missouri State Highway Patrol
One member from the Missouri Attorney General's Office
One member from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
One member from the National Association of State Controlled Substances
Authorities
Two members from the Chemical Manufacturers Association
Two members from the National Association of Chemical Distributors
One member from the national Non-Prescription Drug Manufacturers'
Association
Four members from the wholesale and retail pharmaceutical marketing
associations
The chairman of the Task Force shall reserve the right to add up to
two additional members to the Task Force as appropriate.
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, all meetings
of the Task Force shall be open to the public with notice of times and
locations appearing in the Federal Register. Interested parties shall
be permitted to attend meetings, appear before the Task Force and
present limited verbal statements, and file written statements with
Task Force members. Written statements will be taken at any time during
the meeting and distributed to the Task Force as soon as feasible.
Presenters of written statements are requested to provide 25 copies of
the statement to expedite distribution to the Task Force members. If
the presenter does not/can not provide the requested copies, the
Designated Federal Official (DFO) will make the copies and the Task
Force will consider the statement when the copies are available. Verbal
comments may be limited in time by the DFO to insure adequate
opportunity for testimony by as many presenters as possible.
The Task Force will be advisory only and will provide its report to
the Attorney General.
Dated: November 10, 1997.
John H. King,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control.
[FR Doc. 97-30275 Filed 11-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-09-M